Titanium Horse Shoes Created Using 3D Printer

Scientists with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization custom-designed the horseshoes with the hopes that they could improve horse racing performance.

By using a 3D scanner, scientists were able to measure the horse’s hooves, and then a perfect shoe was 3D printed and fitted to the animal. The process took less than 24 hours, and cost around $600.

The titanium shoes are designed to be lighter and more comfortable than traditional horseshoes, which are made of aluminum. Although they’re more expensive than regular shoes, which are generally no more than $300, scientists believe that the extra cost is well-worth the weight reduction from the light-weight titanium.